The Blues jumped out of the blocks well and weathered a second-quarter storm, before powering away to an impressive 24.7 (151) to 10.6 (66) win against the largely lethargic Saints.

St Kilda's reliance on skipper Nick Riewoldt in attack was once again highlighted, while Mick Malthouse tested a three-pronged forward line that saw Lachie Henderson, Levi Casboult and Simon White boot four goals each.

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"I've never really thought too much about that; it's more about our manner of defending the ball - scorelines look after themselves if you defend well enough."

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Riewoldt would have been well within his rights to ponder his playing future after a torrid first quarter that saw several strong leads torched by his wayward teammates.

It was fitting that he scored the Saints' first goal, soccering through a ball that gave the Blues' defenders every chance to spoil, but it would be one of his side's few highlights in a shambolic opening term punctuated by errors of skill, turnovers and poor decisions.

Carlton, in stark contrast, moved the ball with a confidence and fluency that belied its 4-10 record going into the match. In a dominant display, the Blues had 39 more marks and 35 more possessions for the term as they stormed out to a 26-point lead at the first break.

The rout was on when Andrejs Everitt continued his bright start with the first goal of the second term; when Chris Judd and Troy Menzel followed suit the Saints were 44 points in arrears.

In his 100th game, David Armitage got on the front foot to gather his teammates for crisis talks at quarter-time before Alan Richardson arrived and he was the catalyst for an unlikely St Kilda comeback with 11 possessions in the second term.

Riewoldt was important as the Saints went on a four-goal run that helped bring the margin back to just 15 points at half-time to the dismay of the Carlton home crowd.

"When we tend to have a bad quarter we have a [really] bad quarter," Malthouse said after the Blues went missing.

Carlton may have found another gear, but then in another another maddening Jekyll and Hyde transformation, St Kilda reverted to playing the sort of football that sees it occupy the wooden spoon position after 16 rounds.

The Saints couldn't break inside their attacking 50, let alone score, for most of the third quarter as Blues skipper Marc Murphy warmed to the task and Henderson, Casboult and White continued to hit the scoreboard. The margin blew out to 49 points at three-quarter time, but worse was to come for the slumping Saints who conceded seven goals while adding just one of their own.

After the match, Malthouse agreed Casboult was the most improved player at the club this season, while White's ability to kick four goals, having managed just two in his previous 37 games which he spent mostly as a defender, would appear to make it difficult for the out-of-favour Jarrad Waite to win back his spot.

Malthouse wouldn't be drawn on his selection options ahead of next week's clash against Sydney, however.

"Every game's a new week for us. We weigh it up on its merits and on the opposition," he said.

"So [if] Jarrad plays well, he earns his spot, he's a class player - same with [Jeff] Garlett - then they'll come into the side.

"There's always provision for flexibility within the team, particularly when you go from [Etihad Stadium] to the SCG."